|
Post by apexstaff on Feb 14, 2023 20:18:06 GMT -5
PWS: APEX RIOT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 AO ARENA, MANCHESTER ENGLAND
Fuck the Luck of the Draw Match Winner Enters Last in the Rumble, Loser Enters First Alexis Makarios vs. Devon Ryder DEADLINE IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20th, 2023 AT 11:59PM EDT
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Makarios on Feb 20, 2023 23:46:47 GMT -5
(The scene opens up in the back with Alexis standing soberly in front of a plain background)
Alexis Makarios: I know you guys probably want to see me get all fired up to be doing this big Fuck the Luck of the Draw match. And I am excited… it has huge implications on the returning, and now memorial, Rebel Rumble at Demon's Run. But… my heart is broken right now.
(She wipes a single tear before it falls down her cheek)
Alexis Makarios: All of our hearts are broken. But we need to stand strong. He wanted to see this Rebel Rumble return. And it's going to be glorious if I have to end my career in that ring… so be it.
(Her expression changed from somber to a bit of smirk.)
Alexis Makarios: So here I stand with the opportunity of a lifetime. I go one on one with Mr Canada himself, the PURE Champion, Devon Rider. The pompous windbag who doesn't know when to shut his damn mouth. He is all talk. And no action. He is in way over his head if he thinks for even a single second that he is going to beat me, he is dumber than he looks. Which I'd saying an awful lot cuz he looks like a big ole dumb ass. Just saying.
(She chuckled a little bit)
Alexis Makarios: You see… Rebel Rumble was something I always wanted to enter back in the old days. But that was before PWS had an open mind set about women fighting against the men and only a select few were able to do it. As much as I love Laura and Trisha, and I respect every single wall they have broken down in their lives. They are truly the reason that I am able to do this now. All those years ago, sitting in the back, wanting to be out there with them… finally I get to lead that charge. And it feels… SO GOOD! And I am not going to squander this opportunity.
(She looks right into the cameras)
Alexis Makarios: Devon… You legit don't even know what you are dealing with. You don't understand what it's like to see your dreams be dangled in front of you… like fishbait on a hook… waiting for some one to tear it away. And then the moment arrives and you FINALLY get a taste of it. And I'll be DAMNED if I let YOU take that from Mr. So come prepared to fight… cuz that's what's gonna happen. Good luck, your gonna need it.
(She smirked a bit as the scene faded to black)
|
|
|
Post by Devon Ryder on Feb 20, 2023 23:47:18 GMT -5
*We fade in on a shot of the Canadian Parliament buildings, standing proudly against a clear blue midday sky. A few sparse drifts of snow still dot the landscape, lingering in shadowy corners where the sun’s warmth cannot reach them, but generally everything is green and calm. A few civilians are throwing around a Frisbee on the building’s front lawn, laughing and expressing joy, free from the oversight of any kind of secret service or security. We pan slowly through the grounds of Parliament Hill, down the cobbled walkway and out past the front gate, onto the bustling sidewalk just off Wellington street. Standing there, his back towards the camera, clad in a brown leather jacket and blue jeans, with the PWS: Apex PURE title slung over one shoulder, is Devon Ryder. He takes a moment to inhale the crisp February air, then pivots on his heel to face the camera.*
“This is Ottawa, Ontario. The capital city of Canada, the seat of our government… and my hometown. One year ago today, its streets did not look like this. They were overrun. Choked to capacity with pickup trucks, semi-trailers and 18-wheel abominations adorned with perversions against our great nation. Upside-down Canadian flags, signs calling for the resignation or literal execution of our democratically-elected leader, and even actual Nazi iconography adorned with procession which claimed to stand for ‘freedom’, filled the roadways and BLOCKADED bridges, tormenting innocent civilians with hate-filled diatribes and deafening horn honks at all hours through the night. This ‘protest’ - called the ‘Canadian Freedom Convoy’ by its anti-democratic, right-wing populist organizers, had been ongoing since January. Nearly a full MONTH had come and gone since these goons had made the choice to take our city hostage. Nobody was sure what could be done - our Provincial leaders made no effort, the Ottawa police were even seen to help these would-be rioters - until finally, on February 14th 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did something no Prime Minister has ever done before, and invoked the Emergencies Act, which allowed the Canadian RCMP to swoop in and force towing companies to remove the offending vehicles, finally dispersing the occupation.”
*Devon pauses here, a look of smug satisfaction on his face. He makes his way towards a nearby bench and lowers himself to sit on it.*
“The actions of our PM saved Ottawa that day. He left the Act in place only long enough to ensure that everything had been disbanded - that all the rioters had left and the trade routes were once again navigable - and then willingly repealed his emergency powers. There was an investigation - as there must always be in such extreme cases - but just this week the results have been released and found that the situation in Ottawa DID meet the threshold for declaring a State of Emergency and invoking the Emergency Measures act. In spite of this, Prime Minister Trudeau’s actions have been decried by some within our country as ‘tyrannical’. ‘Government overreach’. The same sorts of talking heads who clamber to Fox News to rail against student debt forgiveness and rip away abortion rights have spoken out in support of this so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’ as a ‘legitimate expression of peaceful protest’, which the government went ‘too far’ in shutting down. It was exactly the same kind of rhetoric spewed by your conservative pundits - your Tucker Carlsons, your Candice Bergens. And it’s disgusting to see so many in my country following that same path… but unfortunately, I am not surprised.”
“Because we are quite similar nations. I do not begrudge anyone who has espoused that opinion. Yes, the United States and Canada have quite a lot in common… but the key difference is in how we REACT when our nations are under siege. The DIFFERENCE… is in our goals. Where you seek to CONTROL your citizens, Canada seeks to PROTECT them. Where you’re obsessed with individuality, we value community and togetherness. Where your government did nothing to stop the most blatant attack on democracy the Western world has ever seen… ours acted swiftly and decisively.”
*Devon pauses here, for emphasis. He lets his words sink in.*
"That alone perfectly illustrates the difference between our two countries; when a pack of rabid, treasonous right-wing seditionists show up to hold our nation's capitol hostage, we DO something about it!"
*Here, Devon pauses once again, his familiar arrogant grin plastered proudly across his face.*
“And that brings me to my opponent; Alexis Makarios. I do not mean to imply that you’re anything like the domestic terrorists who held my country hostage last year, Lexi. Oh, no; you’re a completely DIFFERENT breed of dangerous. They call you the ‘Aussie Firecracker’ - and I can see why. Hell, you’re much more like a WILDFIRE; violent, unpredictable, and almost IMPOSSIBLE to stop once you get going.”
*Ryder smirks.*
“Almost.”
*A beat. He continues.*
“But you’re fighting at a disadvantage tonight, Alexis. Because just like the United States and Canada, you and I are very similar. And you may not be American, but we too have different goals. My aim tonight is not to win when we come face to face - oh no. You see, I want to enter first when the Rebel Rumble dawns, Alexis. I do not see it as a punishment, but instead a means to test and PROVE my indomitable spirit - my unbreakable resolve - in front of EVERYONE who will be watching! So I am not coming to that ring today to beat you. I am not wrestling this match to prevent you from claiming that most velveteen of cushions and entering the fray at #30. I simply wish to make you work for it. To push you to your limit, because I have not yet had the chance, and see precisely how far YOU are willing to go - how hard YOU are willing to FIGHT - to get what you deserve. I’ve SEEN what you’re capable of in that ring, Alexis. I’m impressed. You’ve held multiple titles throughout PWS’ storied history, and you’ve earned every last one of them. I KNOW you have what it takes to fight me to my limit… but do you have what it takes to BEAT me? Of that, I can’t be sure. Because you lost your titles, Alexis. One by one, slowly but assuredly, every belt that you earned eventually passed to someone else. You’ve been on top of the mountain… but you haven’t managed to remain there. That, too, is where we differ. Because, in my case?”
*Devon pauses here, smirking into the camera as he holds up the PWS: Apex PURE Championship. The faceplate glistens in the light, contrasted beautifully by the custom bright-red strap he’s fitted to the belt, and the Canadian Hero casts a sidelong approving glance at it before looking back into the lens.*
“I am still a champion. I have NEVER lost a belt. Even when I gave up the Collateral Damage title to that buffoonish Dylan Howell, it was not because I lost that match. I simply refused to be co-champion. But the fact that a co-championship was even on the TABLE means that I PROVED I was still worthy of that belt! The fact that I was granted this one without a match is a testament to the fact that PWS management KNEW - that they STILL KNOW - that Devon Ryder is and always will be championship material. That I deserve to hold the gold…”
*Ryder pauses once again, gazing down at his PURE title.*
“Ah, but therein lies the problem… because this isn’t THE gold, is it? This is gold, sure, and it is a very worthy title that I intend to make very important to the professional wrestling landscape… but in terms of industry standards? In terms of the STICK by which our greatness will be measured? Well, there’s only ONE belt in this company that really matters, isn’t there?”
*Devon slowly leans forward, laying the PURE title belt across his lap as he locks eyes with the camera, his expression shifting into one of sheer determination.*
“This is a message for Mike Hawk. It is a message for Cleo Phillips. This is a message for those competing in the Rebel Rumble - in fact, this message is for EVERYONE who has ever DREAMED of entering the PWS world title picture.”
“Don’t.”
“Devon Ryder WILL be the PWS: Apex World Champion before the end of 2023. Whether I need to battle through 29 other competitors and win the Rebel Rumble, whether I need to vanquish everyone who comes for my belt until they run out of other options for me - come Hell or high water, if I need to lock SATAN HIMSELF in a blood-choke until he passes out - I WILL end this year with the highest title in the land. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when… and you do NOT want to be standing in my way when that day finally comes. So Lexi, I wish you the best of luck out there tonight - because, like my country’s leader, I do not grant concessions. I won't back down from challenges. And when Devon Ryder - the CANADIAN HERO - sets his mind to something?”
*Devon pauses once again, levelling a steely, stone-cold GLARE directly down the camera lens.*
“Not even an Aussie Hurricane could stop him.”
*With that, Ryder has finished, and he pushes the camera away and rises to his feet, turning to walk down the sidewalk into the Ottawa sunshine as “American Woman” plays him off.*
|
|